Sheriff's Office

About Divisions Museum Sheriff Special Response Team

DASO SRT, 2003

Special Response Team Mission Statement

The primary focus of the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department Special Response Team is to save lives. The team is dedicated to resolving all tactical situations to which it is deployed using the safest means that are reasonably possible. The safety of the residents of Doña Ana County, the men and women of law enforcement, and of the Special Response Team itself, are paramount during any deployment of the tactical team.

Special Response Team History

The Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department Special Response Team began in 1992 with 17 deputies, and has since streamlined to a team of between 12-20 highly trained deputies, including a sniper observer group. The team is on call 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

Since its formation, the Special Response Team has responded to hundreds of calls, and is activated for high-risk warrant service, barricaded/armed subjects, hostage situations, riot conditions, dignitary protection, surveillance details and any other situation the Sheriff deems appropriate. The team trains 20 hours each month.

The team's primary deployment vehicle is a U.S. Air Force "Peace Keeper" armored vehicle, which is utilized for team deployment and for retrieving injured civilians or officers from hostile situations. In addition, the team has a converted ambulance that can be used as a transport/deployment vehicle, as well as for transporting basic equipment to and from a scene. With one phone call to the department’s ICE Air Operations Unit colleagues, the team can quickly deploy two Blackhawk helicopters.